On 12 November 2018, the workers’ side of the VKF will consult and on 13 November the three parties will negotiate on the minimum wage in 2019, the guaranteed minimum wage and the national wage recommendation.

The aim is for Hungary to gradually shift from cheap production requiring lower skills to a knowledge- and innovation-driven economic model producing more added value where competitive advantage is ensured not by low labour cost but by the qualified, innovative and high quality labour force.   

Taking into consideration the limits of the budget and the companies, the National Confederation of Workers’ Councils proposes a 13-15% increase of the minimum wages in 2019.  With this increase the minimum wage would rise to gross HUF 156 000 and the guaranteed minimum wage would grow to gross HUF 208 000.